Hawks coach: “Something is going on” the night before games

The Hawks had the Celtics where they should have wanted them: Rajon Rondo was out, the C’s were on a two-game losing streak, and the Hawks were at home. Nate Robinson, who’s not really a point guard, was starting at point guard for Boston. And although Joe Johnson had shot just 8-for-26 the last two games, he was facing a team that the Hawks swept last regular season.

So what happened? The Hawks fell behind by 26 in the first quarter, and the Rondo-less Celtics bruised and cruised to a 23-point win that was never close.

Atlanta head coach Larry Drew — who had to use three timeouts in the first quarter alone trying to squash Boston’s run — let his team have it after the game. The Hawks locker room was reportedly closed to the media longer than usual before the customary post-game interview session, though Drew did speak to reporters outside the locker room.

“This was very, very embarrassing,” Drew was quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “If I had to sum it up in one word: embarrassing. To come out with that type energy, that type of urgency. What I see with our team right now I don’t feel real good about.”

The players were saying things that made them sound like the Minnesota Vikings. Al Horford admitted the Hawks “have some soul-searching to do,” adding that the team “tends to have excuses for everything.” Joe Johnson said, “I never would have thought we would come out so not ready to play.” Mo Evans suggested, “We don’t have an identity.”

But Drew delivered the most damning comments.

“We’re playing like we’re coming off a back-to-back-to-back,” Drew told reporters. “I told the guys, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing the night before we play, I don’t know what you are doing away from the floor.’ Something is going on that is not allowing us to play with an energy and passion that we should be playing with. As a head coach, I’ve got to find out what it is.

“Something is going on and I’ve got to get to the bottom of it,” Drew said. “Players have to know themselves. They have to know their bodies. They have to know how to get physically and mentally ready for every game, especially at the start. First four minutes of the game, when I see my players bending over grabbing their shorts because they are winded, something is going on. Something is wrong.”

Atlanta is one of the NBA’s notorious party cities (up there with Miami and New Orleans), though that’s generally thought to be an advantage for the home team. Theoretically, the guys on the Hawks aren’t as distracted by the Atlanta nightlife since they live there and should be over the novelty — it’s like how tourists who come to New York City always want to visit Times Square, whereas people who live in NYC try to avoid Times Square due to the huge crowds.

Drew can’t be a babysitter, though. This isn’t college. Road trips are one thing, but he can’t install a curfew at home when guys have families and lives off the court. If the Hawks are being irresponsible with their time away from the court, that falls on the players to discipline themselves. They’re young, rich athletes, but they’re also grown men with a job to do.

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ATL will ruin young, rich atheletes… Miami is doing to same thing to the Heat.. Nightlife is too much for those youngsters.

By: Pwarrior

11.23.2010 @ 1:20 PM

I blame JJ. He is supposed to be the leader, but flakes too often…esp in the playoffs.

By: jryu

11.23.2010 @ 1:28 PM

pink pony..

By: toldyouso

11.23.2010 @ 1:48 PM

top 3 worst contracts in the NBA:

1. rashard lewis
2. joe johnson
3. mike conley

and the players want us to back them in their fight with the owners? millionaires vs. billionaires. i couldnt care less.

By: the cynic

11.23.2010 @ 4:33 PM

everyone on the team is upset joe johnson keeps refusing to pick up the check…cheapskate!

By: S.A.C

11.23.2010 @ 4:55 PM

Wow! We don’t know why/what’s making ATL play like that though.

I did speak to some Hawks fans though, who are very upset with Joe Johnson and his last 4 no-show games with his 22mil a year contract.

Despicable!!

By: Aura

11.23.2010 @ 5:13 PM

They need to stop masturbating the day before games lol.

By: bookkwormmaster

11.23.2010 @ 7:59 PM

You can’t fall behind by 26 POINTS in the FIRST QUARTER!! You just can’t do no shit like that. Not when you’re supposed to be one of the so called ELITE teams in the East. I agree with Coach Drew this shit was EMBARRASSING by my sqaud to play like that.

P.S. Joe Johnson is NEVER going to justify receiving a contract of that magnitude.

By: sh!tfaced

11.23.2010 @ 9:11 PM

If I were as overpaid as Joe Johnson, I’d be partying every night too…

By: Lower East Scribe

11.24.2010 @ 6:46 AM

I’m gunna take a stab in the dark and suggest that whaetever goes on the night before (home) games involves the song “No hands” by Wale, Waka Flocka and Roscoe Dash, bigs bags of cash and baby oil. Haha.